#32 - PHOTOS: From Dance to Theater at Quatre Chemins
All the news from Haiti this week: Quatre Chemins in pictures, forced border at Ouanaminthe, National #2 blocked at Mariani and new massacre at Carrefour-Feuilles
The 20th edition of the Quatre Chemins Festival in Port-au-Prince was marked by a vibrant tribute to dance. Until its closing yesterday, the magic of this event dedicated to theater and the performing arts, was captured by the lens of our photographers.
This and more in HAITI WEEKLY #32 by DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO, a collective of journalists and media professionals based in Haiti.
Editor’s note: We're back after a week's break, and some thoughts about this publication, which will be sent out on Sundays whenever possible. We wish you a pleasant reading.
Etienne Côté-Paluck
Summary #32
The Quatre Chemins Festival in Pictures
Ouanaminthe: Border Forced Open for a Few Hours
Music Video of the Week : PaPè by Fresha Gang
Fighting at Mariani: National Route #2 Blocked
New Massacre in Carrefour-Feuilles
Press Review of the Week
The Quatre Chemins Festival in Pictures
The Quatre Chemins Festival ended yesterday after two weeks of celebration and dozens of performances and artistic events. Readings, dances, exhibitions and theater were presented in most of the capital's cultural centers that are still in operation.
Festival Quatre Chemins invites you to dare to dream the impossible . Le Nouvelliste
Presented at the beginning of last week at the Yanvalou bistro-cabaret, Désincarnées is the expression of a struggle for autonomy and freedom. The performance of three actresses, Nathania Périclès, Micaelle Charles and Charline Jean-Gilles, all dressed in black, evokes the complexity and diversity of women's experiences. This family story is about identity and social norms, with an emphasis on women's right to control their own bodies, including their hair. This intimate exploration of the female condition also touches on childhood prohibitions, motherhood, family rivalries and the constraints of early and forced marriage. A first version of the play was presented in 2022 at the Nègès Mawon feminist festival.
Written and directed by Nathania Périclès, Désincarnées incorporates elements of dance and performance, supported by an ingenious scenography.
Jeanguy Saintus: Tribute to a Haitian Dance Prodigy
Jeanguy Saintus is an emblematic name in Haitian dance. The choreographic creations of this pioneer, who played a crucial role in the training of many generations of dancers, continue to inspire admiration among contemporary dance enthusiasts.
He was the guest of honor at the 20th Quatre Chemins Festival, where he presented Improviso; Resist and led a series of workshops. In addition to his artistic work, Jeanguy Saintus is also recognized for his commitment to promoting Haitian culture and identity. In addition to his artistic work, Jeanguy Saintus is also recognized for his commitment to promoting Haitian culture and identity.
On Monday, November 20, the Quatre Chemins Festival also celebrated the talent and career of this renowned choreographer and dancer during a special ceremony at the Centre Culturel Brésil-Haïti. In addition to the dance performances, music was provided by James Germain and Renette Désir, accompanied by the Fokal Choir.
Vibrant tribute to Jeanguy Saintus for the 20th anniversary of the Quatre Chemins festival . Le Nouvelliste
Waking up Le chêne endormi
Three women's points of view on the mourning of an abusive father are at the heart of Andrise Pierre's latest play, an En lisant creation directed by Eliezer Guérismé. The family drama Le chêne endormi (The Sleeping Oak), starring the moving Stéphanie François, traverses a touching and raw universe, without ever falling into miserabilism. Note the participation of the actor Youyou in the role of the father during the two performances at the Institut français de Port-au-Prince.
See and enjoy Le Chêne endormi by Andrise Pierre . Le Nouvelliste
"Le chêne endormi" at the Festival Quatre Chemins . Le Nouvelliste
Youyou solo
After a resounding success in Montreal, Édouard Baptiste, better known by his pseudonym Youyou, also returned to the courtyard of the Institut français with his one-man show. Better known for his talent as a comedian and visual artist, the artist offers a unique take on Haitian culture and traditions in his show Youyou, pitit pwezi pitit vodou, which blends poetry, personal stories and vodou songs. First presented by CIDIHCA, this show marks a new stage in Youyou's artistic journey, having recently returned from a project directed by Guy Régis Jr. at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
GGoebbels, Jews and soccer at the Festival Quatre Chemins . Le Nouvelliste
Four roads: Dreaming the impossible . Le Nouvelliste
Jean-Pierre Bertho's pictorial universe at the Quatre Chemins festival . Le Nouvelliste
Festival Quatre Chemins: meet Makenzy Orcel . Le Nouvelliste
Carte blanche for James Noël at the Quatre Chemins festival . Le Nouvelliste
"If the chronicle of bad news doesn't disappear from our pages, it's good to read that the Haitian capital is bursting with cultural events. Dance, theater, exhibitions, conferences, fairs, festivals and elatriye light up the calendar. There's something for everyone."
Excerpt from Don't despair, Haiti is still alive
Le Nouvelliste editorial by Frantz Duval (November 29, 2023)
More images to follow in the next issue of HAÏTI MAGAZINE.
Ouanaminthe: Border Forced Open for a Few Hours
On Tuesday afternoon in Ouanaminthe, a group of drivers and contractors forced open the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic for a few hours. They were able to pass several tractor-trailers back and forth before the border barrier was closed again by the city authorities in the early evening.
This group of workers, some of whom were armed on Tuesday, is one of the most affected by the Dominican government’s closure of the border since mid-September. This show of force appears to have been planned after almost a week of confrontations at the border and talks with authorities in Ouanaminthe and Dajabón in the Dominican Republic.
Haiti and DR negotiate to reopen border | Loop Haiti
Yon Gwoup Sivil Ouvè ak Fos Baryè ki Separe Ayiti ak Repiblik Dominikèn - VOA
On Tuesday morning, police fired tear gas to repel a first attempt to open the store.
"Earlier this week, there were reports that the Ouanaminthe border point had been opened by armed individuals. Since then, the question has arisen as to whether the Haitian-Dominican border is officially reopened or still unofficially closed? The Haitian government still hasn't seen fit to say its word in order to clear up the grey areas in the Haitian-Dominican conflict."
Excerpt from What is the real position of the Haitian government in the conflict with the Dominican Republic?
Nouvelliste editorial by Jean Pharès Jérôme (November 30, 2023)
In addition to the numerous commercial companies, the factories in the Caracol free zone depend on the Dominican Republic for their raw materials, which are transported by truck. The forced passage of a few hours on Tuesday, under the watchful eyes of helpless police officers, will have supplied these factories for a week or two, according to one of the local drivers.
"Kanal la Pap Kanpe", one of Haiti's most important popular solidarity movements - Ayibopost
Thanks, Abinader! . Le Nouvelliste
Several journalists were pushed around in the melee surrounding the event. We witnessed protesters smashing cameras and phones that were filming the incident.
"Today, as yesterday, there is no city, no locality, no social group that can claim to be satisfied with the services provided by public enterprises or state institutions. There is no city, no locality, no social group that other cities, localities, social groups can envy. Nothing."
Excerpt from Citizens replace the failing state
Le Nouvelliste editorial by Frantz Duval (November 23, 2023)
In all likelihood, the Dominican customs authorities were complicit, letting the attackers and their vehicles into their territory and taking advantage of the opening to let several trucks cross illegally into Haiti.
Given the level of tensions, a new meeting was organized on Thursday afternoon between civil society groups and the Ouanaminthe authorities to discuss border-related issues. The mayor and others present, with the exception of the transport groups, stuck to their guns: no reopening is conceivable until certain conditions are met on the Dominican side, notably the agreement to hold official negotiations between the two states.
In Ouanaminthe, local stakeholders meet to discuss conditions for reopening the border - Le National
The government is slow to support canal construction - METROPOLE
Music Video of the Week
PaPè - Fresha Gang feat. Bando, Miste Likid, Verse Transparan, Bourik The Latalay, Kency Loco, Loco Dahy, VaVa Queen, Jamal Joker
Haitian drill now has its fall anthem. A few months after his release from prison on never-before-heard (and much-criticized) charges, Bourik The Latalay teams up with new genre superstar Loco Dahy and nearly the entire Fresha Gang to deliver a simple, effective street music video, that has just surpassed 700,000 views in five days.
"We're dying of gangs in the capital," the chorus goes. The first verse also refers to Samir Handal, long wanted for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
A French music lover also posted a video in response to the clip, showcasing the young rap talent from the Haitian capital.
Fighting at Mariani: National Route #2 Blocked
After heavy fighting in Cité-Soleil, north of the Haitian capital, three weeks ago, the southern suburb of Mariani came to a standstill last week due to gunfire. A police operation is currently underway in the area, where an armed criminal group has been trying to regain control since November 1.
"We've been stuck in Gressier since Monday: we can't go forward or backward," a driver on the Jacmel-Port-au-Prince route told DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO on Thursday. Having left the South-East region on Monday, he and many other vehicules were stuck on Route Nationale #2 until Thursday morning, around 4 a.m., when the clashes subsided somewhat. They were then able to reach the Port-au-Prince bus station.
"We now have to pay a toll at Mariani, Martissant and Fontamara, plus a fee at the Portail Léogane station," he continues. There's nothing left in our pockets, neither for the vehicle nor for gas."
The various armed groups occupying the south of the capital are increasingly imposing tolls on road users when the road passes through an area under their control. This is a very lucrative source of income for these criminal groups, while the police have abandoned several neighborhoods.
At Portail Léogane, the bus station in the south of Port-au-Prince, transport companies and buses have all been at a standstill since Monday, awaiting the reopening of the only paved road to the south of Haiti.
AlterPresse | Haiti-Criminality: Part of route nationale # 2 blocked due to police operations against gang members
AlterPresse | Haiti-Criminality: One national policeman murdered and another wounded in armed clashes in Mariani, reveals Synapoha
PNH di Li Pran 'Tout Dispozisyon' pou Deloje Bandi ki Pran Katye Maryani Ann Otaj - VOA
AlterPresse | Haiti-Criminality: At least 6 dead and gunshot wounds in Mariani, during clashes between police and gangs
New Massacre in Carrefour-Feuilles
Sixteen people who had returned to their homes in the heights of the Carrefour-Feuilles district were reportedly massacred by armed men, according to neighbors in a lower district. Our correspondent Siffroy Clarens was there and spoke to some of them the day before the massacre, on Friday, November 24. One of them, who requested anonymity, explained that he had already been shot during the first attack in August. The charred bodies of six residents have been found, while the others are still missing and presumed dead.
New bandit attack in Port-au-Prince: at least 6 people killed in Carrefour-feuilles - L'exclusivité
Bloody attack by Gran Ravin bandits in Carrefour-Feuilles . Le Nouvelliste
A number of neighborhoods in Carrefour-Feuilles, including Savane-Pistache, remain in conflict. Many residents want to return to their homes in the adjacent neighborhoods, but the attackers are opposed to a return to normalcy and are taking advantage of certain gaps in the resistance to push back those who want to return to their homes.
"Between the malice and madness of power of some, and the delirium of others, the population is caught in a vice. There are those who believe they are safe from the final explosion. But those who think they are safe are always accomplices, even for their cowardice and silence."
Excerpt from Between Malice and Delirium
The National editorial by Gary Victor (November 29, 2023)
DÈYÈ MÒN ENFO’s team
Photojournalists: Francillon Laguerre, Sonson Thelusma, Andoo Lafond, Milot Andris, Patrick Payin
Editorial board: Etienne Côté-Paluck, Jean Elie Fortiné, Jean-Paul Saint-Fleur
Interns: Wilky Andris, Donley Jean Simon
Special collaboration: Mateo Fortin Lubin, Josué Azor, Jéthro-Claudel Pierre Jeanty, Delano Morel, Françoise Ponticq, Nicolas Derenne, Harold Isaac, Chrisfort Louis, Siffroy Clarens, Stéphanie Tourillon-Gingras
Media partners: Centre à la Une, J-COM, Nord-Est Info
Institutional partners: Kay Fanm, Mouka.ht
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Press Reviews of the Week
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